Tandem control for presses



June 9, 1936. J. P. slNGlsr-:R

TANDEM CONTROL FOR PRESSES Filed July 22 INVENTOR JOHN P.

SI'NGISER l w 9 ATTORNEYS @W Patented .lune 9, 1936 2,043,497 TANDEM coN'rnor. For. PRESSES .lohn P. Singiser, Chicago, Ill., assignor to The American Laundry Machinery Company, Norwood, (ihio, a corporation of Ohio Application July 22, 1935, Serial No. 32,563

4 Claims.

This invention relates to pressing machines and more particularly to an arrangement of a control mechanism for operating two pressing machines in a tandem arrangement under control of one operator.

A very customary arrangement of pressing machines involves the arrangement oi two machines for tandem control by one operator in which one of the machines is closed for a pressing operation while the operator svremoving a processed article from the other machine and arranging a new article preparatory to closing that machine. It is desirable in operating Such machines that the operator at all times have control of .each machine independently of the other but it is also desirable while working at one to be able `to open the other machine so that the material therein is not subjected to heat and pressure for too long a period of time. My invention provides a tandem arrangement of two pressingrnachines in which the operator has at all times control of the closing and opening of the machine at which she is standing and has a control member for `opening a companion machine arranged in such a manner that it requires a very definite and positive act on her part to open the other machine.

My improved control mechanism provides a novel arrangement of control mechanism for a pressing machine in which each machine is provided with. two spaced safety manuals actuable simultaneously by the two hands of an operator to cause preliminary closing of the pressing machine. Grouped with one of these manuals is a third manual which causes the iinal closing movement of the pressing machine at which the operator is standing and grouped with the other of the two safety` manuals is a fourth manual, actuation of which controls the opening of the other or remote pressing machine.

Other novel features and advantages of my invention will appear from the accompanying drawing and specication and the essential features will be summarized in the claims.

In the drawing Fig. 1 shows two pressing machines. in elevation arranged for tandem operation with the control mechanism shown diagrammatically; Fig. 2 is a plan View of the manual control members for press A of Fig. 1; while Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional View of a portion of the mechanism of Fig. 1.

My improved control mechanism is shown as applied to two pressing machines of the type illustrated, described and claimed in my copending application Ser. No. 18,146, led April 25,

1935. I shall briefly describe one of these Inachines, it being-understood that they are both alike and reference may be had to the copending application if necessary or desirable for a more complete description. I have designated the left 5 hand machine press A and the right hand machine press B. Press A comprises a frame I0 upon which is mounted a pressing bed II which is mounted on guiding pins I2 in a portion of the frame for vertical movement relative to the frame. The bed has a downwardly extending stem I3 `by which it is actuated. I provide a motor I4 having a piston I5 which is connected to the Vlonger arm of a lever I6 which in turn is pivotally mounted on the frame at I'I. The short arm .15 ;of the lever I6 contacts the stem I3 at the point I8 which provides a great multiplication of the power of motor I4 to lift the bed I5 in a Vertical direction. A coacting head I9 is carried by a head lever which is pivotally mounted in the20 pressframe at 2 I. The rear end of the head lever is connected by toggle links 22 and 23 to the lower rear portion of the frame. These-toggle links break inwardly when the press is open as shown in connection with press B and are movable to and beyond straightened position to a point slightly rearward of the straightened position as shown in connection with press A when the pressing machine is closed. A spring 24 ybiases the pressing head towards its open position and also serves to help retain the links in their locked or strut-forming position as shown in connection with the closed press A. A combined snubber and kick-oil` device 25 is provided which has a spring pressed plunger 26 which is engaged. by the toggle link 23 as it moves into the position shown in connection with press A and this device 25 thus provides a cushioning means when the toggles move into their locked position and also provides an initial kick adapted `to throw the toggles out of their locked position when the press is opened. The toggles are actuated by a motor 2l which has a piston 28 connected by a piston rod 29 with the toggle link 23. The cylinder of motor 2'I is provided with a leak 5 port 21a near the fluid inlet end thereof for a purpose later described.

Motive iiuid for operating motor 21 is provided rom a source 30 by way of conduit 3|,

' valve casing 32, conduit 33, valve casing 34 and 50 conduit 35. Valve casing 32 houses a normally closed inlet valve 36 having a valve stem 31 which is operable by a downward movement of manual 38. Valve casing 34 houses a normally closed inlet valve 39 and a normally open outlet valve 55 which have a common stem 4| which is actuable upon downward movement of manual 42. It will be obvious from this arrangement that simultaneous actuation of manuals 38 and 42 is necessary to effectively supply motive fluid to motor 21 and when fluid is so supplied the motor will make a power stroke placing the toggle links in the position where they form a strut between the frame and the rear end of the head lever so that the head is then held stationary and in position to resist upward motion of the bed when a pressing operation takes place.

Motive fluid for motor I4 is supplied through conduit 43, valve casing 44 and conduit 45. Casing 44 houses a normally closed inlet valve 46 andY a normally open outlet valve 4l which are mounted on a common stem 48 which is engaged by the upstanding arm 49 of a manual 50 so that when the manual is raised the valves are moved out of their. normal position and into fluid supply position. 'Ihis manual 5B is grouped with one of the safety manuals, preferably with the right Vhand manual 38 asbest seen in Fig. 2, where the manual 551s slightly below manual 38 and is operable by the same handof the operator. A detent member 5| has a shoulder which is engageable behind the arm 49 to hold the manual 5U in its operated position. The detent is biased in its lower position by a spring 52. It will thus be obvious that the press cannot be fully closed until the operator makes a'positive move with the right hand to raise the manual 50 when it is desired to nally close the pressing members. The operator sometimes desires to close the press lightly and open it again to assure herself that the garment being processed is properly arranged without wrinkles, etc., and with this control mechanism, depression of the manuals 38 and 42 and that everything is arranged properly, tripping of the manual 50 will iinally close the press after Ywhich manuals 38 and 42 may be released. The 45' leak port21a insures a release of the pressure in motor 21 if manual 38 is released while manual 42 is'held in its operated position.

Press B is provided with parts in all respects similar to those just described and the parts are so designated with the addition of a suix b. For tandem operation power means is provided for returning the manual 5D to its normal or oi position with a control member at the other press for energizing this power means. In the form shown the manual 50 has an arm 53 which is engaged by the movable rod 54 of a servo-motor v 55 which in the present instance comprises a diaphragm 56 enclosed in a suitable casing and supplied by pressure fluid from a conduit 51. This conduit communicates with a valve casing 58h on press B which in turn is connected by conduit 591) with a source of iiuid supply 3ll. Valve casingV 58h houses a normally closed inlet valve 60h and a normally open outlet valve 6Ib which are mounted on a common stem B2b and actuable by the arm 63h of a manual 64b. VThis manual is grouped with the left hand safety manual 42b in a manner similar to the grouping of the manuals 38 and 50 already described. That is to say, manual 64b is closely associated with the manual 42h so as to be actuable by yone hand and preferably manual 64b is slightly beneath manual 42b Y soth'at it is moved to its on position by raising on press A are shown arranged in exactly the same manner as already described in connection with the similar manuals at press B.

With the tandem control members arranged as shown, the operator standing at press A and 5 operating the control manuals to close the sam'e as has already been described, has at all times Within her control the ability to open press B by an additional positive operation of her left hand, so that the operation of opening press B can be l0 performed at any time regardless of whether press A is being preliminarily closed by the manuals 38 and 42 or whether it is being finally closed by the manual 5t. This is a Valuable feature in press control because the operator may desire to l5 open press B immediately upon the arrangement of the work at press A and before closing the same or at any time during the closing operation of press A depending upon the type of garment at press B, the condition thereof as to moisture, 20

' etc., and depending also upon the time which it has taken the operator to properly arrange the garment on press A. These matters are all discretionary with the operator and a skilled operator soon learns the necessary time for properly pressing a garment when all of the variable conditions are taken into consideration. The actuation of manual 64 at press A will admit motive iluid through conduit 51h to servo-motor 55h so as to move manual 50h downward thus releasing 30 the pressure in motor I 4b and permitting press B to open under the influence of the device 25b and the spring 24h. In a similar manner after a closing operation, with the operator standing at press B and actuating the manuals 38h, 42D 35 and 5017, the actuation of manual 64b operates servo-motor 55 to move manual 50 to its o" position and open press A.

What I claim is:

1. A pair of pressing machines arranged for 40 tandem operation, each machine having a pair of coacting relatively movable pressing members, power means at each machine for relatively moving said members from open to preliminary closed position, power means at each machine for rela- 45 tively moving the members thereof into final closed position, each machine having control means for said first named power means including two safety manuals spaced for simultaneous operation by the two hands of an operator, each 50 machine having a control member for said second named power means grouped with one of said safety manuals for operation by one hand of the operator, and means for moving said control member of each machine in press-opening direction including an actuator grouped with the other safety manual of the other machine.

2. A pair of pressing machines arranged for tandem operation, each machine having a pair of coacting relatively movable pressing members, power means at each machine for relatively moving said members from open to p-reliminary closed position, power means at each machine for relatively moving the members thereof into nal closed position, each machine having control means for said rst named power means including two safety manuals spaced for simultaneous operation by the two hands of an operator, each machine having a control member for said second named power means grouped with one of said 70 safety manuals for operation by one hand of the operator, fluid actuated means for moving said control member of each machine in press-opening direction, a fluid supply line for each said last named means, a normally closed valve for controlling the flow of fluid in each supply line, and an actuator for each valve grouped with the other safety manual of the other machine.

3. A pair of pressing machines arranged for tandem operation, each machine having a pair of coacting relatively movable pressing members, power means at each-machine for relatively moving said members from open to preliminary closed position, power means at each machine for relatively moving the @members thereof into nal closed position, each machine having control means for said first named power means including two safety manuals spaced for simultaneous operation by the two hands of an operator, each machine having a Acontrol member for said second named power means grouped with one of said safety manuals for operation by one hand of the operator, said control member being movable into a press-closing-producing position and movable into a press-opening-producing position, said control member being fso constructed and arranged that it will stay in either of its two positions when so placed, and means for moving said control member of each machine in press-openingpro ducing direction including an actuator grouped with the other safety manual of the other machine. 1

4. A pair of pressing machines arranged for tandem operation, each machine having a pair of coacting relatively movable pressing members, power means at each machine for relatively moving said members from open to preliminary closed position, power means at each machine for relatively moving the members thereof into final closed position, each machine having control means for said rst named power means including two safety manuals spaced for simultaneous operation by the two hands of an operator, each machine having a control member for said second Vnamed power means grouped with one of said safety manuals for operation by one hand of the operator, said control member being movable into a press-closing-producing position and movable into a pressopening-producingposition, said control member being so constructed and arranged that it will stayin either of its two positions when so placed, fluid actuated means for moving said control member of each machine in press-opening direction, a uid supply line for each said last named means, a normally closed valve for controlling the flow of fluid in each supply line, and an actuator for each valve grouped with the other safety manual of the other machine.

JOHNP. SINGISER.. 

